The Broken Peace

By Johnnie Ruffin

In the Broken Peace, Keman of the Yiman has been acknowledged as the first Fa'il Caanlin to be born in generations after his defeat of the Grenim. As the Owan bring war to all the tribes with their dark magick and strange weapons, Trinia of the Owan has been given the task of killing the Fa'il Caanlin. Meanwhile, Helgan of the Shanwa has promised to bring the Fa'il Caanlin to the Owan in exchange for his tribeswoman. Will Keman survive his Night Trials with so many forces conspiring against him?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Johnnie Ruffin
• Release date: Nov 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311747570

Johnnie Ruffin

Johnnie Ruffin, M.Sc. is an optimist, a writer, and a Software Engineer. He first published his short story "Khory's Power" with "A Place To Enter" in the early 90's, which introduced his shape-shifting black leopards known as the Caanlin to the world. The second full-length novel about the Caanlin, The Broken Peace, is his most recent addition.

Book preview

Caanlin Running

Volume II: The Broken Peace

By

Johnnie Ruffin, M.Sc.

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2013 by Johnnie Ruffin, M.Sc.

Chapter One

Trinia

Since she was just a kit, Trinia recalled rising every morning to do the hunt with her sisters. When she was ten cycles they allowed her to take her first kill; a doe twice her size. She could still taste the flow of blood on her tongue as it ran down her throat even as she snapped its neck with a turn of her jaw. At twelve cycles they allowed her to lead the sisters and teach the younger ones. She had become so good that she was never allowed to miss a morning hunt for fear the males would be angry their fresh meat did not arrive.

It was considered evil for an Owan female to take the human form. As such they learned to communicate easily in leopard form. It was a quiet interaction that required a great deal of observation if one did not tap the energies of the Lore, which was frowned upon, although not considered evil.

In the afternoons, Trinia brought her kills to the Kri Ai, with the help of the most senior sisters. They dragged the carcasses on large Liampta Leaves all the way to the center hut of the Kri Ai. Eye contact between a female and male was considered evil, particularly a female and the Kri Ai. Trinia had learned to keep her muzzle low to the ground and crawl away as the Kri Ai approached.

His response was ever the same. He would pace the carcass in leopard form, his black pelt glistening in the rays of the high sun, and he would prod the flesh to see it move and prove its freshness. A flaring of his nostrils and a snapping hiss dismissed the sisters from his presence.

At fourteen cycles, Trinia’s blood burned for the first time. The older sisters said she was no longer a kit and she was not allowed to hunt for a full moon. At the end of her first moon, she hunted again.

She brought down a boar and a buck in celebration. The younger sisters had to help drag the two before the Kri Ai.

This time the Kri Ai did not touch the carcasses. Instead he walked directly to Trinia.

She lowered her muzzle farther into the dirt and shut her eyes.

She could feel his warm breath as his nostrils sucked in her scent. He walked by her hind legs and they rose of their own accord.

The Kri Ai puffed air at this and stood to human form. Dress appropriately and come to me this evening in human form. You are found to be satisfactory. A sacrifice will be made to honor our union.

Trinia struggled under weakened limbs, and the sisters had to tug at her to get her moving.

In the burrows where the females dwelt, the older sisters guided Trinia to human form. She had never tried as many did in the darkness, late, when no one was watching. The hunt had always consumed her, and now to take the form was painful, cold, and difficult to command. Walking on two feet took some practice and she had to be supported by two of the sisters, who remained in leopard form and took to each side of her.

Trinia was dressed in a black cloth that clung to her lean figure, and covered every hint of dark flesh, leaving only her eyes visible. It was evil for a male to be tempted by the dark flesh of a female. She had to guard it at all costs, even if the Kri Ai requested her to come to him in human form.

Each step was new, but Trinia learned quickly, so that when they reached the center hut she hardly had to lean on the two sisters, and they left her there, waiting for the Kri Ai.

When the flap to the Kri Ai’s hut lifted, she fell immediately to her knees. He grabbed her by the shoulders and dragged her into the hut.

Three other males sat in a semi-circle as the steam of hot coals and water stifled the air. Trinia kept her eyes to the ground.

She is obedient, and proper, as an Owan female should be, the older male said. They have trained her right.

She is the best hunter I’ve known these past few cycles. She can also touch the Lore, the Kri Ai said matter-of-factly.

Trinia covered her ears in shame. It was evil to listen to the words of the males uninvited. She lowered her head to the dirt.

Will she have the courage to kill a heathen? Why not simply take her as a woman?

If the Yiman is as powerful as Shiandra suspects, he will see all our attacks coming. If we send her while he is still inexperienced…

I feel as though we are attempting to force the Hand of Nature, one of the other males muttered. The heathen outcasts are abominations that we should ignore. We are of the First Ones. It humbles us to consider this heathen a threat.

Has it occurred to any of you that Nature chose this heathen to bequeath its power to? another questioned.

The Kri Ai sighed. You spend too much time with the Inuthans. Have you forgotten how the Balance works? This heathen holds power that can just as easily come to one of us if we kill him.

Will you teach her to hold a weapon? That is forbidden. Break our laws and we are no different than the heathens.

Not if the weapon is Inuthan.

All the men grunted, though it did not sound like approval.

How will she find the Yiman?

We have made a trade, the Kri Ai replied with a wave of his hand. Shanwa are good for that, at least.

This was how Trinia came to be holding the strange metal that the Kri Ai had given her, and a mission she did not understand fully. The Kri Ai’s hot breath touched her left ear as she flattened her human face into the dirt floor.

You will hunt in human form using this blade. Learn it well and come to me on the morning of the fifth day. I will send you to kill a heathen on that day. If you are successful, you may become one of my wives. The lower caste will welcome you with leisure and sweets.

Trinia waited, uncertain whether it was proper to acknowledge his words.

Go and prepare!

Trinia moved backward awkwardly on hands and knees until she was out of the hut. She put a hand to her chest to try to calm her fast-beating heart. Slowly, she rose on weakened legs.

A female, a low growl came from the shadows.

She is given the permission of the Kri Ai, an even more coarse voice boomed from behind her.

Trinia turned to see a large, dark mass standing behind her, a spear in hand and the head of a dead bear atop his head. He leaned forward in the flickering light of torches. She could see the whites of the tribesman’s eyes and they seemed to hold amusement.

Trinia looked away quickly, ashamed that her curiosity led her to make such a mistake.

I am Takus De’Na, Guard of Owan, Leopard of Night. By order of the Kri Ai, I am to never leave your side until your task is at hand.

The heat that stirred her blood still moved at the low sound of his voice, and she tapped her chest to soothe her jumping heart. She stumbled at her next step and a calloused hand caught her forearm.

We learn to walk faster than Inuthan children, but it still takes time when you have never walked in human form. Go carefully.

They walked slowly back to the burrow. Trinia cast furtive glances back to make certain he still followed, even after the torchlight died and only the incandescent glow from their eyes lit the night. Trinia was pleasantly surprised to see the night vision of her leopard form take over when there was no light. In truth, it was easier than the torchlight that the Owan males kept. She could only assume that it was for the benefit of the Inuthans.

Trinia could see frantic movement at the burrow. The scent of Trinia and a male would have been disruptive to the small burrow of female leopards. She could see the flicker of incandescent eyes and several pelts vanishing into the burrow as they came before it.

The oldest sister was all that remained. Laying her muzzle on the soft grass before the burrow, the older female leopard waited.

Trinia began to speak, but did not know what to say.

Takus stepped before her and she easily took a step back. He explained her mission in detail, ending with, and she is not to take the form of leopard until her mission is completed, save to rest. I will stand watch outside the burrow and accompany the hunt at dusk.

Takus walked to the side of the burrow, laid his long spear on the soft grass and took the form of a leopard before resting.

Trinia swallowed down her trepidation and took the leopard form, following